Hello blustering changable November

Matsubara-hachiman-jinja is the Shinto shrine in himeji, hyogo, Japan. Each year the ''Nado no Kenka Matsuri'' - 'Fighting festival is held here Oct, 14th & 15th. There are approx 30,000 Hachiman Shrines in Japan. Photographed while visiting to see the Matsuri. - Photographed 10 14 2009 with Canon EOS 400D SLR Digital Camera.

Zenko-Ji is a Buddhist temple located in Nagano, Japan. The temple was built in the 7th century. Nagano City, established in 1897, was originally a town built around the temple. Historically, Zenkō-ji is perhaps most famous for its involvement in the battles between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen in the 16th century, when it served as one of Kenshin's bases of operations. Currently, Zenkō-ji is one of the few remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan. Photographed 10 04 2008 using Canon Digital IXUS 400.

I was not able to find vuch information about this Shrine other than the correct name, I only knew it from the local name. I saw it fisrt time in 2006 while looking across the city from Himeji Castle viewing area, I described it to one of the staff at the Tourist infirmation office and learned that what I could see was a Shrine Museum building designed rather like a Temple, and that there was in fact a Shrine behind it. Photographed 10 12 2009 with Canon EOS 400D SLR Digital Camera and Tamron Tele Lens.

In 1601, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ordered all the feudal lords in Western Japan to contribute to the construction of Nijō Castle, which was completed during the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1626. Parts of Fushimi Castle, such as the main tower and the karamon, were moved here in 1625-26. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. The Tokugawa Shogunate used Edo as the capital city, but Kyoto continued to be the home of the Imperial Court. Kyoto Imperial Palace is located north-east of Nijo Castle. The central keep, or Tenshu, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1750. In 1788, the Inner Palace was destroyed by a city-wide fire. The site remained empty until it was replaced by a prince's residence transferred from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1893. In 1867, the Ninomaru Palace was the stage for the declaration by Tokugawa Yoshinobu, returning the authority to the Imperial Court. Next year the Imperial Cabinet was installed in the castle. The palace became imperial property and was declared a detached palace. During this time, the Tokugawa hollyhock crest was removed wherever possible and replaced with the imperial Chrysanthemum. Photographed 10 20 2009 using my Canon EOS 400D SLR digital camera.